Anime UK News - Regular news, views and reviews from the UK Anime community and beyond

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Who we are

Having been established since February 2004, Anime UK News is constantly striving to deliver high quality UK anime news and reviews to your computer screens each and every day, being sure to maintain high standards of writing and reliability.

Designed and maintained by devoted anime fans, Anime UK News and it's fledgling forum community is growing with each passing month, proving we are an ambitious and trusted resource for UK-based anime fans and beyond!

How to contact Anime UK News
Are you looking to contact Anime UK News about competition sponsorship, press releases and review copies? Do you represent a company or organisation looking for exposure on Anime UK News? Be sure to contact us by emailing chaos@animeuknews.net.

Meet the team behind Anime UK News

Editor

chaos

Editor

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

31 yo from Brazil, who have been exiled because I can't play footie.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

Tom & Jerry and Woody Woodpecker.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

A few DVD's a week, although currently I'm watching less and less anime, as other things in life are taking precedence.

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

The Twelve Kingdoms - I hope the writer finish the story on the novels soon and the get the rest of it animated!!!

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

Manga. Yeah, I know, I'm a sad, sad person...
I used to play bass guitar and before going to college I had to play gigs at least 2 times a week. I play the odd game here and there, but I can't call myself a gamer anymore.

I also enjoy studying new languages - human or machine ones...

Rui

Editor

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

A sprightly 26 (at time of originally writing this, which I'll probably never remember to update). I currently live in the Greater London area.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

I can remember dozens of cartoons from the same period - Transformers and the ancient Spiderman series in particular. The first cartoon I remember loving was the movie Flight of Dragons. I still worship it just as much.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

At least one episode a day on average. I don't download so perhaps that doesn't sound like so much but over the years my collection has become vast. I read manga too, though I'm trying to cut down on that aside from amazing series or things that will obviously never be animated, to avoid effectively buying things twice. My other half collects manga more frequently so I have a large library to fall back on.

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Shoujo Kakumei Utena. TV and movie versions. If I'm going to be stuck for a while it has to be one of those shows I will never get tired of.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

The usual - manga, games, music, roleplaying, books and sleeping.

Sarah

Editor

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

I'm twenty-one!! From that you can guess that I'm at that age when I'm no longer prepared to admit how old I am online! I have two sons (one of whom introduced me to DBZ and 'Naruto'). I'm from the West Country, born and brought up in Bath, but I've been living in Beckenham, Kent, for quite a while now.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

Does 'Captain Pugwash' count as a cartoon? Otherwise it would have to be 'Top Cat'and 'Scooby-Doo'(which always made my younger sister hide behind the sofa). And those dreadful early 'Herge's Adventures of Tintin!' versions which almost ruined one of my favourite series for me.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

I watch way too much anime (at least an episode or two a day). And I read way too much manga. Or not nearly enough, looking at it from another perspective... I'm still having fun catching up on all those series (manga and anime)that we missed out on in the UK. I love 'Kyo Kara Maoh!'at the moment (R1), Fullmetal Alchemist' and 'Eureka Seven'. I'm looking forward to 'Tsubasa' and 'Blood +'.

Current manga favourites are anything by the brilliant Fumi Yoshinaga ('Antique Bakery' will do for a start) and Oh!great's crazily inventive 'Air Gear'. Sanami Matoh's 'Trash' was a promising start to a new series, too.

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

This is really tough.
For intellectual puzzling over, it would be 'Neon Genesis Evangelion'. For comfort viewing, it would probably have to be 'Fruits Basket'. For a series that I just love, it would have to be 'Loveless'.

The third wins.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

Music - of all kinds (I trained as a musician which is why anime music is really important to me).

News Reporter

Arbalest

News Reporter

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

Howdy hi hi, I'm 19 years old and come from a tiny wee place called Killin in the middle of nowhere. At present though I'm in Edinburgh.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

First Cartoon....ooo thats got to be Looney Tunes. I still get a kick out of watching it now, it still has that charm that it had way back when. I think its one of those cartoons that will probably still be watched by kids for years yet, its somewhat timeless you could say. Tom & Jerry too, ah thats another brilliant classic, which i guess is also one which is timeless too.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

As much as i do like to spend my nights watching anime, University has taken up about 80% of my time, so when i do finally get back and have free time, its more sleep that i'd rather have. Mind you, manga has been something more i read now, with my collection slowly but surely increasing in size. I can usually fit in a manga a night, so at present i've been working my way through both Berserk and Fruits Basket, only just finishing Genshiken last week. It may not be manga, but i have taken a big interest in light novels, a lot of anime is made based on light novels now, Full Metal Panic and Haruhi spring to mind, and both Light novel series are equally, if not more interesting than their anime counterparts, so obviously i've been reading them as well.

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Which one anime series....thats a toughy actually, I would probably go for Full Metal Panic!, its my personal favourite, and it may be cheating, but i'd try to stash all three series. My only hope is that the rest of the light novels get animated so i could stash more.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

I've been a fairly big gamer a lot of my life, thats calmed down a lot from when i was 14-15, but its still there, so its quite likely that you could see me online on my Xbox 360 at some point on the latest titles. I've taken a big interest in Japanese as well, despite not actually doing a degree in it, i've taken it upon myself to teach it to myself when i can, so i can at least speak and write/read a little bit now. Also outwith the more "geeky" side of me, i've taken to going out for walks around town or with friends. This is really my first proper year in a city and there is a fair bit to look at, so i thought i'd start taking in the sites or just nice walks in the evening. Other than that, i've taken a lot to reading a fair bit as well, nothing beats a night in, listening to a bit of Jazz or Rhythm & Blues, whilst reading a good book sometimes.

Writer

ayase

Writer

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

ayase is twenty... three. If he remembers correctly. He currently resides in Scarborough on the North East coast of England where he has recently opened an independant bookshop. Happily this means he is his own boss, but sadly it means he is tied to one place for the forseeable future, which won't be easy as he loves to travel. He dislikes describing himself so chooses to get around this by writing in the third person.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

Either Danger Mouse or Duckula. Both were brilliant Cosgrove Hall productions. Whatever happened to the UK animation industry? I do also remember seeing Laputa on TV when I was a lot younger, years before I got into anime or knew what it was. It was a great realisation when I saw it again later, thinking "I remember this!"

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

It very much depends on how much time I have, and how much in the mood I am. Anywhere from one film a month (I seem to watch Ghost in The Shell at least bi-monthly) to one series per day. My longest ever marathon was about twenty episodes of Zeta Gundam at once.

I am getting into manga, albeit slowly. I must be getting fairly into it to own more Japanese volumes I can't yet entirely understand than I do English language ones!

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Patlabor, without a doubt. You'd think that question would be a hard one, but not when a series of the quality *and* quantity of Patlabor exists. Created by Headgear, the greatest anime & manga artists collective ever to walk the earth (Kazunori Itō, Yutaka Izubuchi, Mamoru Oshii, Akemi Takada, Masami Yuki) it has just about everything you could want from an anime - Original and well drawn characters (in more ways than one), a great cast, humour, drama, action, emotion, giant robots. All in forty-seven TV episodes, twenty-three OVA episodes, and two feature films. I'd leave WXIII behind though. On second thoughts, I'd take it for the Minipato shorts, and use the film disc as a coaster.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

Reading both prose novels and western graphic novels (which helps when you run a bookshop). Independant travel - I've been for months at a time to Canada and the USA by myself and loved it, back in that golden age when the Pound was strong and the air fairs were cheap. :(

My ideal scenario is sitting outdoors on an evening in a warm climate (somewhere a lot closer to the equator than the UK, where you can still wear a t-shirt when it gets dark) overlooking the sea with a crate of Newcastle Brown Ale. Outdoor projection equipment wouldn't go amiss either.

christor

Writer

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

Hiya guys and lady-guys I am a long-time anime fan from deepest darkest Kent. Canterbury to be precise. I'm in my late 20's (which is about 50 in otaku years) and I remember the old days of stumping up 13 quid for a dub only VHS with one episode... you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it! *gazes wistfully into the distance*

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

Probably Bagpuss. I've met him you know. Well, his creator brought the original puppet to my primary school and I saw him, but that doesn't sound quite so exciting. A lot of my favourite cartoons growing up (Dogtanion, Cities of Gold) actually turned out to be anime, so maybe that's the source.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

Not as much as I used to thanks to it sharing time with my other interests but I always try and squeeze some in. I'm working my way through a couple of manga series (monster, death note) and I always make time for my favourite static art-form!

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Tough question there. Asking me to choose my favourite Miyazaki movie is like asking a parent to choose between their children. Mononoke, Totoro or Spririted Away? I can't choose, so I'm going to take the easy route and just take the Cowboy Bebop boxset instead, as there's something in there to suit just about any mood.And the best soundtrack ever.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

I'm into animation as a whole, not just anime. I love all sorts from Pixar, to The Simpsons, to Coraline. I'm also a movie buff- unsurprisingly I've got a bit of a leaning towards Japanese and asian cinema but I enjoy films from the world over- including, yes some stuff from Hollywood. I also enjoy videogames- I'm a Nintendo loyalist through and through (although I have a PS3 as well). I spend most of my time making animations and comics of my own and I hope to work in that field myself some day!

darkstorm

Writer

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

My name's Sarah, I'm 24, live in London, and work in the TV industry. I've been working since I was 17 and never went to university, that's why I lack knowledge of drinking games but have a lovely telephone voice.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

Bucky O'Hare, Dangermouse, Count Duckula and Rugrats come to mind; I was a big watcher of Nickelodeon in the young days too.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

I tend to have 'binges' of anime; I can go months without watching any, then all of a sudden go through tons of box sets.
I have more time for manga due to the nature of my job but I try to avoid any series that's over 10 volumes long (says the one who owns Death Note and is currently reading Vampire Knight...)

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

It's not very original, but probably Neon Genesis Evangelion; it was one of the first 'grown up' animations I saw and I always find something new in it every time I watch it.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

My major interest is video games; I own at least 2 consoles from every generation since the Sega Mega Drive days, so I always have a game on the go.

I watch far too much TV; I have about 10 programmes series linked on Sky+ at any given time.

Writing reviews is also a hobby of mine; as well as anime I also review video games, films, books...anything I feel I can talk about.

genkinahito

Writer

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

My name is Jason. I am 26. I am from Cardiff. These details are liable to change soon... Well, not my name at the very least.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

The Real Ghost Busters. Now THAT was a cartoon. Everything from Lovecraftian mythos to the Marshmallow man and a wicked sense of humour with those loveable guys.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

I watch at least one anime series a month. Noein is the latest one. I read at least one manga a month - Biomega, Afterschool Charisma and Pluto are recent reads.

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Time of Eve - A recent discovery and one that is shorter than most anime and focuses on androids yet says more about humanity than 90% of the rest of the medium. It never gets old so I can rewatch it as many times as I want. It is also short so I can focus on getting off the island because I don’t plan on staying on it for long.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

I enjoy creative writing and reading a lot - hence my blog and efforts at writing short stories. I enjoy listening to music (J-Pop, soundtracks, pop-punk, Jazz, classical, Hip-Hop) and going to art galleries and getting into pretentious conversations with girls at coffee shops.

I enjoy films. A lot. I go to the cinema almost every week and watch films every weekend. I love foreign films the most - Hong Kong flicks were my first addiction then Japanese films and anime then French films. Now I watch whatever takes my fancy.

Ian Wolf

Writer

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

I'm 26 and from Stockton-on-Tees. Apart from AUKN I'm also the "Manga Expert" for MyM Magazine. I'm also currently secretary of ONECon, an anime convention in Middlesbrough.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

Most likely Winnie the Pooh.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

I like to try and watch one disc a day, so the amount I watch varies depending on how much is on the discs. I do read manga as well, usually before going to bed.

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Most likely Gurren Lagann.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

Comedy, whether it be stand-up, TV or radio. I work for the British Comedy Guide as one of their administrators and reports. I also write a weekly column for the northern comedy website Giggle Beats reviewing TV and radio comedy, as well as comedy anime.rnrnI also support Middlesbrough FC and Durham CCC.

MaxonTreik

Writer

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

I was born on 24/04/1986 and I am from Edinburgh (originally from a small town in the Scottish Borders).

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

The earliest one I can remember watching is Samurai Pizza Cats, so anime is in my blood. Not literally, or course.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

I watch 4-5 hours per week, sometimes more depending on how bored I am. Manga is harder for me to get into, but I am following a few on a weekly/monthly manga.

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Most likely GaoGaiGar.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

Video games, manga, visual novels, light novels and sports (mainly football).

Reevothemusefan

Writer

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

I'm 23 years old and I live in a village in the middle of nowhere called Snarestone.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

So many memories yet all so vague, I think the cartoon that comes to mind is Dexter Laboratory. It was fantastic back in the day.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

I normally watch anime at least 2 episodes at night, I found that it gets me to sleep.
Yes I do read manga too, I read manga mainly at home or on public transport.

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Thats harsh, I can think of many great series, I would pick Beck: Mongolian Chop Squad, just because I enjoy watching it everytime I watch it.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

I love music, i'm more of an indie rock person than listen to the next big rock hit.

Bands like These New Puritans, The Engineers, Hope Of The States.

I also enjoy playing a lot of video games, I play various normal RPG's and JRPG's.

My list of best games includes Persona 3, Final Fantasy 7 and Gitaroo Man.

Ryo Chan

Writer

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

I'm a 25 year old security and sales assistant at Argos, stuck in the middle of nowhere between Blackpool and Preston

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

Showing my age now, it was probually Denver the Last Dinosaur, or Dangermouse, i can never remember which came first

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

I tend to save my Manga for work or while traveling on the bus, but i'd say i spend on average 5-6 hours a week watching anime

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Oh that's a tough one, there's too many good shows out there, but i'd have to go with Tenchi Muyo, it one of my first and favorite shows of all time

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

Video games, Video making and music. I'm afraid i'm the typical sterotypical otaku

VivisQueen

Writer

The generic introduction... How old are you? And where are you from?

I'm twenty-six years old and from Norfolk, but currently based in Germany.

Forgetting anime for a moment, what's the first cartoon you can remember watching as a kid?

My first would probably have been a Warner Bros.' cartoon like 'Bugs Bunny', although I cannot recall for certain. If it helps, the one I first remember falling in love with was Disney's 'The Little Mermaid'.

So how much anime do you actually watch? Ever made the time to read manga too?

These days I watch two or three episodes almost every evening thanks to a club I founded on another website where we watch and discuss a show together. I've recently become immersed in the world of manga and my favourite thus far is Naoki Urasawa's 'Pluto'.

Knowing you're going to be stuck on an deserted island, which one anime series/movie do you stash?

Assuming I have a laptop with the relevant software installed, 'Legend of the Galactic Heroes'. At 110 episodes, I could drag the viewing out across a year, not to mention it's one of the few shows whose detail, breadth of themes, and emotional power can only become apparent with repeated viewings.

Other than the obvious anime addiction, what else do you enjoy?

I love reading and hiking. You might also find me in a pub once in a while engaged in oral conversations with real, physical people.

Editorial Spotlight

Review of K-On! Season 2 #1
	"Music is powerless to express anything." – Igor Stravinsky. Liverpool gave us the Fab Four called "The Beatles", Rutland gave us the Pre-Fab Four.. Read more (0 comments)
Review of Mayo Chiki!
	"I love those decadent wenches who do so trouble my dreams." – Rembrandt. There are plenty of fan-service filled anime out there, most of which vary in.. Read more (0 comments)
Review of Bodacious Space Pirates #2
	Marika Kato, the sixteen-year-old schoolgirl captain of the pirate spaceship Bentenmaru, has a duty to keep her ship's precious Letter of Marque valid by regularly performing a.. Read more (0 comments)

Latest Reviews

K-On! Season 2 #1 (0)

Mayo Chiki! (0)

Bodacious Space Pirates #2 (0)

Penguindrum #1 (0)

Fractale (0)

[View ALL Reviews]

Manga Reviews

Atomcat

Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon #10

Unico

Egoistic Blue

Library Wars #9

[View ALL manga reviews]

Latest Updates

Thursday, 23 May

New Guilty Gear Game

Wednesday, 22 May

Celebrate 25 Years of Studio Ghibli

Monday, 20 May

20/05/2013: New Manga Releases This Week

[News Archive]

Got news?

Got some news? E-mail it to news@AUKN

Upcoming UK Releases

[View Full Schedule]
Mon, 27 May 2013
Full Metal Alchemist: Brotherhood - First Part (1-33) (Blue-Ray)	Manga Ent.
Fullmetal Alchemist Brotherhood - Volume 4 (Blu-Ray)	Manga Ent.
Highschool of the Dead: Drifters of the Dead	Manga Ent.
Highschool of the Dead: Drifters of the Dead (Blu-Ray)	Manga Ent.
One Piece: Collection 1	Manga Ent.
Supernatural: The Anime Series	Warner Home Video UK
Mon, 3 Jun 2013
Naruto Shippūden: Complete Box Set 3	Manga Ent.
Shiki: Complete Collection	Manga Ent.
Waiting in the Summer	MVM Films
Mon, 10 Jun 2013
Blood-C: Complete Series (Blu-Ray)	Manga Ent.